What exactly were the Vancouver Canucks trying to accomplish in free agency?

It’s a fair to question to ask, especially when you consider the following:

1. The Canucks had the fifth-worst offence in the NHL last season. They only scored 2.66 goals per game, and that was with a half-decent power play. At 5-on-5, only two teams (Buffalo and Montreal) had more trouble putting the puck in the net.

2. Of Vancouver’s five leading scorers from last season, three of them — Henrik Sedin, Daniel Sedin and Thomas Vanek — won’t be back for 2018-19.

3. On July 1, the Canucks didn’t even attempt to replace the lost scoring. Instead, they used a good chunk of cap space to sign Jay Beagle, Antoine Roussel and Tim Schaller: a trio of veteran, checking forwards.